Topic: Looking for a job is hard work! Part II

Author: Anna Rabiega

Addressee:

high school / technical school student

Core curriculum:

• old curriculum:

standard level:

4. Education and work in Poland and in the European Union.

Student:

7) discusses the general principles for taking up job and starting a company in the European Union (based on information from the Internet); draws up the Europass‑CV.

extended level:

10. Education in the 21st century.

Student:

3) explains the relationship between the education system and the labour market; points to examples of mismatches.

• new curriculum:

standard level:

VI. Selected problems of public policy in the Republic of Poland.

Student:

3) presents actions aimed at reduction of unemployment and social exclusion on the example of the activity of the Labour Office in his/her poviat.

extended level:

XI. The legal system of the Republic of Poland.

Student:

15) explains labour law regulations in the Republic of Poland (employment contract and its types; termination of employment contract and its types; types of leave; workers’ rights and obligations);

16) compares the situation of an individual resulting from different forms of employment: employment contract, civil‑law contracts, running a business activity by a natural person.

The general aim of education:

The student diagnoses socio‑political problems and assesses selected solutions to these problems as well as diagnoses possibility of his/her own influence on their solution.

Learning outcomes:

The student:

• effectively plans the job search process.

• analyses different types of employment.

• explains what workers' rights are and gives examples of their violation.

Key competences:

• communicating in a foreign language,

• digital competence,

• learning to learn,

• social and civic competences,

• sense of initiative and entrepreneurship.

Teaching methods:

• discussion,

• 635 method,

• teaching conversation using schemes, interactive exercises.

Forms of work:

• self‑learning,

• group work,

• whole‑class activity.

Material & equipment needed:

• computers with loudspeakers/headphones and internet access,

• multimedia resources from the e‑textbook,

• interactive whiteboard/blackboard, felt‑tip pen/a piece of chalk.

Lesson plan overview (Process):

Introduction:

1. The teacher presents the goal of the lesson: You will learn how to effectively plan your job search process.

Implementation:

1. The teacher divides the students into 6 groups. The teacher informs them that they will develop tips for effective job search with the use of 635 method. Each group writes down the issue to be analysed „How to effectively look for a job?” on a sheet of paper. Within 5 minutes, each group writes down 3 tips. Then the groups pass their cards to another group, which adds its (non‑recurring) ideas or modifies and completes the ideas of the predecessors. The passing on of the cards after another 5 minutes is repeated until all the groups write their ideas on each card. Each group then holds a short discussion on the ideas collected. The teacher asks willing/selected students to present the tips that seemed the most important to them and to justify their answers.

2. The teacher displays „Six Steps to Job Search Success” scheme on the interactive board and asks willing/selected students to comment on its content:

• Does it contain issues that the students have not identified during group work?

• Do students think that these guidelines are important? Why?

3. The teacher asks students to look at the infographics „How most people look for employment / How most employers look for employees”. The teacher initiates a short discussion – what conclusions can be drawn from the information presented in the inverted pyramid? Willing/selected students present their proposals.

4. The teacher asks the students to do Exercise 2. The students' task is to characterise the different types of employment contracts: to present the benefits and disadvantages for the employer and the employee. Wiliing/selected students present their proposals. If students find it difficult to complete some of the fields in the table, they may look for answers in the abstract.

The teacher asks willing/selected students to choose the form of employment that would suit them best and to justify their choices.

5. The teacher asks the students to do Exercise 1. Willing/selected students present their answers, the teacher corrects them if necessary.

6. The teacher divides the students into 6 groups. The task of each group will be to prepare instructions for the employer containing the most important tips on the treatment of employees. Students work using information about workers' rights contained in the abstract. The teacher sets the time for completion of the task, and after its elapse, asks the representative of the willing/selected group to present the results of their work. Students from other groups complement the proposals of this group with their own ideas.

7. The teacher initiates a short discussion and asks „Do you think that the workers’ rights are adequately protected in Poland? Students give their arguments. At the end of the discussion, the teacher asks the willing/selected student to summarise it.

Summary:

1. At the end, the teacher briefly presents the most important issues discussed during the classes. The teacher answers additional questions of students and clarifies any doubts. Students complete the notes.

2. Homework proposal:

a. Using the methods presented in the lesson, look for a job on the Internet that would interest you in the future. How many job offers can you find? What are the requirements for candidates? What else could you do to find your dream job?

b. Listen to the abstract recording to review the material and new vocabulary. Then do the vocabulary exercise at the end of the chapter.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

It’s a hard job looking for a job! Part II

How to plan your job search effectively? Here are some hints to take into consideration:

• Everyday, write down a to‑do list – plan what you have to do to find a job.

• Submit your applications early in the morning – this makes a good impression, and allows you to have enough time to fill all the questionnaires in, go to job interviews, take the required tests.

• Call your potential employers to find out, what is the best time to ask about a job - some companies only allow applications on certain hours and days of the week.

• Write down all the employers you have made contact with, together with the date of your application, the names of the people you spoke to, and all the important details about the contact.

• If it’s possible, apply for various companies in the same region at one time – this will save you money and time in case you have to travel for interviews.

• Be prepared, carry your CV and an outline of your personal statement with you at all times, along with a pen, and a notebook to write down information about available workplaces – you never know, when you hit the bulls‑eye.

• Immediately seize every opportunity, when you find out about available workplace – never wait until the next day.

• Spread the news that you are looking for a job – tell all your friends and family, keep in touch with anybody that can help you.

• Read on various ways to find a job – you can use all the hints there are.

• Remember about the so‑called inverted pyramid – the methods that most people use to look for a job might not be the most effective ones.

The employment contract

In Poland there are several types of contracts between an employer and an employee. It is crucial to know what the advantages and disadvantages of each of them are and what to expect from your boss when you sign a certain type of contract.

Regular employment contracts are regulated by the Labour Code. When you sign one of them you are entitled to paid holidays, maternity and childcare leave, severance pay in the event of collective redundancies and the dole lasting 6 months after leaving your work. Moreover, if you are planning to take a mortgage you would be considered a person with a stable income in a bank. For the employers, this is the most expensive contract so it is not so easy to get it.

There are a few types of regular contracts:

1. For a trial period (contract for a trial period of no more than three months).

2. For a fixed period (contract for a specific period).

3. For the time of completion of a specified task.

4. For an indefinite period (also when a third subsequent fixed‑term contract is signed, it is deemed to be an indefinite term contract)

5. To substitute an employee – in the event of his or her justified absence from work; the employer can hire another worker under a fixed‑term employment contract for the period of absence.

Civil law contracts are regulated by the Civil Code, which differs from the above mainly in that they specify a piece of work to be done within a defined period of time, quite often without setting working hours; the most popular ones, among many others, are the following two:

1. Contract of mandate concluded for the performance of a specified activity. These contracts do not impose daily or weekly time limits for performing the work - you won’t get paid for overtime, there will be no internal rules of employment, and no mandatory social protection.

2. Contract for specific work concluded for achievement of a specific result. These contracts are often used because they are not a subject to mandatory social security contributions.

Before you begin your work the employer has to pay for your visit to an „occupational medicine” doctor that will issue an attestation that there are no contraindications for you to take up the job. Additionally, the employer should carry out a health and safety training for you.

An employment contract can be dissolved:

1. With the agreement of the parties.

2. By one of the parties giving notice (employer or employee) with a notice period.

3. By one of the parties giving notice without a notice period.

A contract concluded for a fixed term or for the time it takes to complete a specific task is dissolved at the end of the term or when the task is completed (although it can, in certain circumstances, like disciplinary reasons, be dissolved earlier).

Examples of unethical behavior can sometimes be found in the area of relations between the employer and the employee. In this case, we are dealing with violation of workers’ rights, but also failure to fulfill obligations by employees or ignoring duties by the employer.

The employer has, among others, an obligation to:

• familiarize his employees with the scope of their duties, the manner of performing work in designated positions and with the rights of workers,

• organize the work by ensuring full use of working time and in such a way that the employees, thanks to their aptitudes and qualifications, achieve high efficiency and proper quality of work,

• to organize the work, ensuring reduction of its nuisance, especially monotonous work or work at a predetermined pace,

• to counteract discrimination in employment, in particular on grounds of sex, age, disability, race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, trade union membership, ethnicity, sexual orientation, as well as employment for a definite or indefinite period, or in full or permanent employment; part‑time work,

• to provide safe and hygienic working conditions and conducting systematic training of employees in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS),

• to ensure timely and correct payment of remuneration,

• to help the employees improve their professional qualifications,

• to satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the social needs of employees,

• to apply objective and fair criteria for the assessment of employees and the results of their work,

• to keep records on matters related to the employment relationship and personal files of employees,

• to influence shaping of the principles of social coexistence in the workplace.

Failure to pay the remuneration, to provide a certificate of employment or non‑compliance with health and safety regulations - these are just some of the offenses that are sometimes committed by employers against workers’ rights.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) defines both a set of rules and principles for safe and hygienic work performance, and a specific area of knowledge dealing with shaping appropriate working conditions.

The National Labor Inspectorate is a state institution in charge of ensuring the compliance with the provisions and rules of OHS in Polish workplaces, as well as other regulations provided for in the Labour Code. The mission of the National Labor Inspectorate is effective enforcement of labor law, including health and safety at work, through targeted controls and preventive actions aimed at respecting the labor law and reducing accident hazards.